Outlawing the smack

In Australia it is legal for parents to use corporal punishment to discipline children as long as the punishment is 'reasonable' in the circumstances.

A leading group of doctors is pushing to make it a criminal offence for parents to smack their children.

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians will call for the legal amendment on Friday to give children the same protection from assault as other community members.

President of the college's paediatrics and child health division Associate Professor Susan Moloney said physical punishment could escalate to abuse.

"We know that a significant number of child homicides are a result of physical punishment which went wrong," she said. "It started off as physical punishment and went too far."

Research shows that it can also lead to depression, anxiety, aggression, antisocial behaviour and substance abuse.

In Australia it is legal for parents to use corporal punishment to discipline children as long as the punishment is "reasonable" in the circumstances.

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"If you hit your dog you could be arrested, but it's legal to hit your child," Professor Moloney said.

"We protect children with legislation around pool fences and not smoking in cars, for example. This is legislation which would protect children from physical punishment."

The college, which represents 14,000 physicians, will run a public awareness campaign to educate parents about the alternatives to smacking as part of its push for legal reform. It will discuss the proposal with the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) and seek advice from legal experts.

Child psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg does not advocate smacking, but believes legislation would be unworkable.

"What are we going to do? Have the smacking police?" he said.

Family therapist Michael Hawton said many good parents smacked simply because they didn't know about alternatives.

"The problem is many parents simply don't know what to do or what the alternatives are so they become frustrated and they smack or they yell," he said.

Dr Justin Coulson, a father of five children aged from three to 13 and parenting author, agreed that education would be key to any legal reform. "I am in favour of legislation, but I don't think it's enforceable," he said. "It's a bit like speeding. Everyone does it and you have to be unlucky to get caught. I would rather see resources going into education."

Dr Coulson's research shows a high degree of acceptance for smacking in Australia, although 33 other countries have legal bans in place that have led to lower rates of child abuse and crime in general.

Roslyn Phillips, research officer with Christian group FamilyVoice Australia, rejected claims that smacking was harmful, saying it was instructive for small children.

"Reasonable discipline teaches very young children who have no understanding of logic where the boundaries are," she said. "A short physical action indicates no. An abusive action by parents is a crime, but a smack is not in that department."